JOURNEY times in and out of the region will be slashed thanks to a £7.5bn rail investment.

The Government today announced plans to build a new generation of Super Express trains that will run on the East Coast main line.

They will replace the existing fleet operating on the route, which runs from Scotland to London via Newcastle and Durham.

The environmentally-friendly trains will see around 10 minutes shaved off journey times between Newcastle and the capital and will come into use in 2013. There will be more seats on every new carriage.

As well as making rail travel more attractive to leisure passengers, it is hoped the announcement will provide a boost to the regional economy.

The Government says 12,500 jobs will be created or safeguarded by the announcement.

North East Chamber of Commerce spokesman Mike Parker said: "Anything that improves the quality of the journey experienced by passengers using the East Coast mainline is to be welcomed.

"If it means more people wanting to use the service to travel into the region, then that is going to benefit everyone.

"From a business perspective, we also hope the improvements will attract businesses to the region."

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon today announced Agility Trains had been selected as the preferred bidder for a £7.5bn contract to build and maintain the new fleet of Super Express trains.

They will operate on the Great Western and East Coast mainlines and will replace existing Intercity 125 trains, which are 20-30 years old.

Agility – a British-led consortium made up of John Laing, Hitachi and Barclays – will build a new train manufacturing plant in the UK, as well as depots in Bristol, Reading, Doncaster, Leeds and west London.

Mr Hoon said: "This announcement demonstrates this Government is prepared to invest, even in difficult economic times, by improving our national infrastructure.

"It is good news for the British Economy that more than 12,500 jobs will be created and safeguarded, good news for the regions that the Government is supporting significant inward investment."

The first of the new trains will enter service on the East Coast mainline in 2013 and the full service will be in operation from 2015, linking London with Durham and Newcastle.

Government rail experts have worked closely with the rail industry, including current East Coast mainline operators National Express to create a new specification for the trains, which will offer more seats, more reliable services and reduced journey times."